A Waterbury Middle School teacher has been placed on paid leave while school officials investigate complaints about the way she allegedly addressed one of her African-American students.

Paul Guidone, the chief operating officer of Waterbury schools, told the Republican-American newspaper that math teacher Kathleen Pyles is accused of referring to the child as “black boy” when she couldn’t remember his name.

Officials say the incident occurred in May. They were told the teacher called the child by the wrong name, and when he pointed that out she responded by saying, “How about black boy? Go sit down, black boy.”

Pyles will remain on paid leave while the alleged incident is investigated, Guidone said.